There is a growing health crisis here in the United States. There are approximately 3.2 million people in this country infected with hepatitis C. Unfortunately because symptoms of this disease are not always obvious, many people go undiagnosed. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 75 percent of the people who carry Hep C are undiagnosed.
According to the CDC, hepatitis C is a liver disease that is spread when blood of an infected person enters another who is not infected. Today, most people are infected through needle sharing. However, most of the diagnosed cases here in this country are baby boomers born between 1945 and 1965. Even still, Hep C tests are not readily offered possibly due to the social stigma attached to the disease.
Hepatitis C has become stigmatized and unfairly labeled. It is up to us as a country to remove the social stigma and take on this looming health crisis. I am part of a group at University of Southern Maine working toward their master’s in social work that are working to bring light and remove stigmas attached to Hep C. Our group is working to define harm reduction measures through focus groups, education to the public as well as IV drug users, educate public more positively about IV drug users, and create community awareness through paintings, cartoons, drawings, or murals.
It is up to us as a society to remove the social stigmas attached to Hepatitis C. Early detection of Hep C can be the difference between life and death. Removing social stigmas attached to this disease can be promoted through public education, word of mouth, and media engagement. Testing is covered by Medicare and private insurance and adds no cost to the patient. The CDC estimates that testing alone for Hep C could save up to 120,000 lives. It is time we as a society make the decision to engage with the world that we have and not the world that we want. Hepatitis C is a stigmatized health crisis that needs to be constructively addressed as Americans.
Chris Deveau , Saco
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